Petition: Kill 'Mockingbird' in county's schools - Nashville, TN

[TNMOM]

I couldn't believe this when I saw it. A local is trying to get "To Kill A Mockingbird" banned from a middle school that has approved it for eight graders.

Go to www.tennessean.com to get the full story, and DU the poll. I'm excerpting the lead of the article here.


Petition: Kill 'Mockingbird' in county's schools

By CHARLES BOOTH
Staff Writer


BRENTWOOD — An anonymous letter arrived yesterday in the mailboxes of Brentwood Middle School parents asking them to sign a petition to have the novel To Kill a Mockingbird removed from Williamson County Schools.

The letter states, "The school has a policy against profanity although the novel contains much profanity, thus contradicting the school's own policy." The letter includes seven instances of "profanity" in the book, including derogatory words for women.

It also states "this book contains adult themes such as sexual intercourse, rape, incest …" It contends that the book's use of racial slurs promotes "racial hatred, racial division, racial separation and promotes white supremacy."

[graywarrior]

1. done

[countingbluecars]

2. Done. n/t

[flamingyouth]

3. An anonymous letter?

Shows something about the person behind this effort. If he or she thinks the book promotes "racial hatred, racial division, racial separation and promotes white supremacy" they didn't get it at all.

[TNMOM]

5. it's a fundie right-wingnut, apparently

I clicked on the pdf link shown on the website to get the actual petition. There are a bunch of Bible verses at the bottom of it.

It figures that this is a cowardly Christian.

[Nicole]

4. Done

Should eighth-graders read "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

87.2%
Yes
8.5%
No
4.3%
It depends

Total Votes: 1732

[acmavm]

6. 3:40 p.m. CST, seems like the intelligent crowd is winning this one.

Should eighth-graders read "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

87.5%
Yes
8.3%
No
4.2%
It depends


Total Votes: 1773

[China_cat]

7. To Kill a Mockingbird

has been on the top 10 list of banned books for several years now.

http://www.powells.com/psection/BannedBooks.html

[mopinko]

14. see, this is why chicago is the greatest city in the world.

One Book, One Chicago

[pitohui]

8. maybe they didn't read it

i don't see how you could argue that it's racist altho it's somewhat misogynist certainly

[stanwyck]

13. argues for white supremacy?

how could anyone with familiarity with the book make that statement? We can't let people who are so lazy or so dishonest make policy for the rest of us. Not only is this person cowardly, writing an anonymous letter instead of publicly making their argument, but they don't even respect themselves enough to do the necessary homework for their own crusade.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. Same sort of moron that wants to ban Huck Finn.

Disgustingly ignorant.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Probably the two greatest anti-racism novels available.

Not just ignorant but malicious.

[proud patriot]

11. glad to help , one woman one vote

[snacker]

12. Done. n/t

[TahitiNut]

15. 8th grade is about exactly the right age to read "To Kill a Mockingbird"!

:shrug:

[uppityperson]

16. I consider this one of the best books written, content and style

The content is great and has so much more than the movie. I think that people who object to the book may have never read it but are relying on how the movie was. Yes, Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch is my father figure, and the movie does a really good job, but there is so much more in the book. And it is written so well, English lit and composition clases should require this book. 8th grade is a good age for it. The book promotes racial, age, illness difference acceptance, and makes you look at many different types of people, how they act and really question why. For instance, that old lady that raises camillias that Jem trashes, leading them to have to read to her. Not so simple.

[FreedomAngel82]

17. That's outrageous

I've read the book and that's so false (and seen the movie a thousand times). It's a great book and one of my favorite's personally. I love the movie too (Anthony Hopkins does great). I've read it so many times. I wonder how many of these parents have actually read the book.

[tnlefty]

18. Can't have the yunguns gettin ideas about killin the state bird!

That was a weak attempt at humor. This crap never ends does it? Parents in my county have tried to have Where the Red Fern Grows and many other books that were staples in children's literature when I was growing up banned. Gee, this gets old! I have a friend who teaches high school English/Lit. and she gets so angry about having to justify why something will be required, finding suitable alternatives, etc. She was fit to be tied when parents were complaining about Keats and couldn't understand why their kids should have to read poetry in the first place.